Kathmandu, 21 July : Nepal and Russia celebrated the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with a gala evening at the Russian House in Kathmandu on Monday, highlighting seven decades of friendship, cooperation, and people-to-people ties.

The event began with the inauguration of a historical photo exhibition titled “Russia–Nepal: 70 Years of Friendship and Cooperation”, officially opened through the traditional lighting of the Panas.

Among the distinguished guests were Hon. Barsaman Pun, Member of Parliament, Coordinator of the Nepal–Russia Parliamentary Friendship Group and former Minister; H.E. Aleksei Vladimirovich Surovtsev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Nepal; Ms. Anastasia Khokhlova, Director of the Russian House in Kathmandu; and representatives of Nepal’s Russia-friendship organizations.

The programme opened with the national anthems of Nepal and Russia, followed by welcome remarks. Congratulatory messages from Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov were also read during the ceremony.

Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Surovtsev reflected on the long-standing friendship between the two countries and recalled the meeting between the leaders of Nepal and Russia on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin in September 2025. He expressed gratitude to the many Russian and Nepali organizations that have strengthened bilateral relations over the decades.

He also highlighted the enduring goodwill Nepali people continue to show toward Russia, describing it as a legacy of the Soviet Union’s support for Nepal and a strong foundation for expanding cooperation in the years ahead.

Russian House Director Anastasia Khokhlova emphasized the important role played by thousands of Nepali graduates of Soviet and Russian universities in strengthening bilateral ties. She noted that the Russian House has served as the flagship of Russia’s humanitarian and cultural engagement in Nepal for more than four decades.

Khokhlova said Russian and Nepali scholars continue to promote academic and cultural exchanges through translation, research, and literary collaboration. She expressed confidence that the two countries would further deepen trade and economic cooperation, expand educational opportunities for Nepali students in Russia, and strengthen cultural exchange programmes.

During the event, the Russian House presented a Letter of Appreciation to Swaraj Shakya, General Secretary of the Nepal–Russia Friendship and Cultural Association, in recognition of his contribution to strengthening bilateral relations. The Association was also honoured with a Token of Love for its continued efforts to promote friendship between the two countries.

Representatives from several Nepal–Russia organizations, including the Nepal Russia Science Society, Mitra Kunj Alumni Association, Friends of RUDN Society, Nepal–Russia Literary Association, Nepal–Russia Chamber of Commerce, and Shailee Theatre, also addressed the gathering.

The celebration concluded with cultural performances representing the rich artistic traditions of both countries. The audience enjoyed Nepali traditional dances, a performance of the classical ballet The Dying Swan by Yana Yeliseyeva, a musical performance by Juju Kaji Ranjit, and the famous Russian song Nadezhda (“Hope”) performed by Vera Yurchenko.

The evening ended with a reception and informal interactions among guests, underscoring that the 70-year diplomatic relationship between Nepal and Russia is rooted not only in official cooperation but also in enduring friendship between their peoples.